Free Darkfire: A Book of Underrealm by Garrett Robinson
Authors: Garrett Robinson
Xain, frowning.
“Is there no way to quiet him?” said Albern.
“Not without medicines I do not have,” said Jordel. “Why? Do you fear discovery?”
Albern looked out into the darkness rimming the small circle of firelight. “I hope not. But the further north we go, the more likely we are to find eyes in the darkness around us. Mayhap they will be friendly, but mayhap not.” He fell silent, and no one answered.
After she had eaten ravenously of Jordel’s spare food, Loren took a brief walk to ease her aching legs, and escape the wizard’s groaning.
“Take your bow,” said Jordel. “For protection, but also in case you spy a bird or a rabbit.”
“A fair idea,” Loren nodded. “I will not be gone long.”
Annis stood. “Wait. I wish to go with you.”
Jordel sat to converse with Albern about the road ahead. They had spoken each night since they were forced to turn back on the pass, for now speed was more important than ever. Gem looked at the girls, then at Jordel and Albern speaking tersely by the fire. He too gained his feet and ran to catch up. Together the three of them ventured into the darkness, away from the fire. It took Loren’s eyes a moment to adjust, but the moons shone bright in the sky and painted everything with a keen silver light.
Annis said, “I am sick to death of these mountains. Or mayhap the rain. Perhaps the sores from my saddle. I suppose I am sick of it all.”
“I do not mind it so much,” Loren shrugged. “Tis good to ride without much fear of pursuit — a fine change from the last many weeks.”
Annis waved a hand. “I would rather rest somewhere in peace and quiet than find it upon the road. When first I left the High King’s seat I was excited by the journey, but the many miles have almost made me long for our manor.”
“Truly?” said Loren. “I would have thought parting ways with your mother would have made your travels seem sweeter.”
Annis picked at a string on her sleeve. “I suppose. Yet I will happily retire to a bed, a chair and a fire if given the chance.”
Loren stopped and turned to them both, struck by an idea. “Mayhap you can have more than that. What if we found you a place to stay, once we have safely left Selvan behind us? And you as well, Gem.”
The children looked at Loren as though she were mad. “What sort of place? Jordel’s stronghold, you mean?”
Loren shook her head, growing more excited. “No, not that — some noble’s manor, far from any court where Yerrin or the Mystics might find you. I am certain Jordel would know of such a place. You would be safe from all prying eyes — even your mother’s.”
Gem’s face grew angry. “You mean to leave us behind, while you and Jordel carry on with his quest?”
His fury confused her, but Annis’s pained expression was worse. “What have I done to offend you?” she said. “Why would you cast me aside?”
“I … you have done nothing,” Loren said, suddenly unsure. “But you have seen the dangers of our road, and I think it will grow far darker before its end. You have had nowhere to go beyond my side, but I know Jordel could arrange it.”
“What makes you think we want somewhere else to go?” said Gem. “Did we ever ask you for one?”
“She just said so!” Loren pointed to Annis. “And you are always complaining of the cold and the rain and how little we have to eat. You cannot tell me you would rather have this life than one of peace and plenty.”
“I spoke only of wanting a rest,” said Annis, her sadness slowly turning to anger. But where Gem’s was like a fire, hers was a ball of ice clenched in a fist. “I did not ask to leave. Mayhap I thought more of our friendship than you.”
“And I have pledged myself to your service!” said Gem. “You took my word and my promise. You cannot cast them aside. It is … it is dishonorable. ” He spat the word like a curse.
Loren was at a loss, and growing annoyed. “You are acting like
“Is there no way to quiet him?” said Albern.
“Not without medicines I do not have,” said Jordel. “Why? Do you fear discovery?”
Albern looked out into the darkness rimming the small circle of firelight. “I hope not. But the further north we go, the more likely we are to find eyes in the darkness around us. Mayhap they will be friendly, but mayhap not.” He fell silent, and no one answered.
After she had eaten ravenously of Jordel’s spare food, Loren took a brief walk to ease her aching legs, and escape the wizard’s groaning.
“Take your bow,” said Jordel. “For protection, but also in case you spy a bird or a rabbit.”
“A fair idea,” Loren nodded. “I will not be gone long.”
Annis stood. “Wait. I wish to go with you.”
Jordel sat to converse with Albern about the road ahead. They had spoken each night since they were forced to turn back on the pass, for now speed was more important than ever. Gem looked at the girls, then at Jordel and Albern speaking tersely by the fire. He too gained his feet and ran to catch up. Together the three of them ventured into the darkness, away from the fire. It took Loren’s eyes a moment to adjust, but the moons shone bright in the sky and painted everything with a keen silver light.
Annis said, “I am sick to death of these mountains. Or mayhap the rain. Perhaps the sores from my saddle. I suppose I am sick of it all.”
“I do not mind it so much,” Loren shrugged. “Tis good to ride without much fear of pursuit — a fine change from the last many weeks.”
Annis waved a hand. “I would rather rest somewhere in peace and quiet than find it upon the road. When first I left the High King’s seat I was excited by the journey, but the many miles have almost made me long for our manor.”
“Truly?” said Loren. “I would have thought parting ways with your mother would have made your travels seem sweeter.”
Annis picked at a string on her sleeve. “I suppose. Yet I will happily retire to a bed, a chair and a fire if given the chance.”
Loren stopped and turned to them both, struck by an idea. “Mayhap you can have more than that. What if we found you a place to stay, once we have safely left Selvan behind us? And you as well, Gem.”
The children looked at Loren as though she were mad. “What sort of place? Jordel’s stronghold, you mean?”
Loren shook her head, growing more excited. “No, not that — some noble’s manor, far from any court where Yerrin or the Mystics might find you. I am certain Jordel would know of such a place. You would be safe from all prying eyes — even your mother’s.”
Gem’s face grew angry. “You mean to leave us behind, while you and Jordel carry on with his quest?”
His fury confused her, but Annis’s pained expression was worse. “What have I done to offend you?” she said. “Why would you cast me aside?”
“I … you have done nothing,” Loren said, suddenly unsure. “But you have seen the dangers of our road, and I think it will grow far darker before its end. You have had nowhere to go beyond my side, but I know Jordel could arrange it.”
“What makes you think we want somewhere else to go?” said Gem. “Did we ever ask you for one?”
“She just said so!” Loren pointed to Annis. “And you are always complaining of the cold and the rain and how little we have to eat. You cannot tell me you would rather have this life than one of peace and plenty.”
“I spoke only of wanting a rest,” said Annis, her sadness slowly turning to anger. But where Gem’s was like a fire, hers was a ball of ice clenched in a fist. “I did not ask to leave. Mayhap I thought more of our friendship than you.”
“And I have pledged myself to your service!” said Gem. “You took my word and my promise. You cannot cast them aside. It is … it is dishonorable. ” He spat the word like a curse.
Loren was at a loss, and growing annoyed. “You are acting like